Monthly Archives: May 2012

Well, I’ve decided to go through 31 Days to Clean here on my blog. But not exactly.

Tyndale is going to be publishing the book and I need to beef it up and revise it, therefore I’m going to be cleaning and writing during June…and I’d like your help. Here, just watch the video (it’s worth it if only for my absurd hair):

So, want to clean with me? If you do, link up your blog below and we’ll tackle our homes and our hearts, together. If you write a post letting your readers know you’re going through the challenges with me, link that post below. If you don’t have a blog, just leave a comment letting me know you’re joining in. Or, you know, be the silent type. Whatever works for you. Sound good? If you want to help me spread the word, grab the button at the top of the post and put it on your blog (just right click and “save as” and link it to this post). Also, if you would like a copy of 31 Days to Clean, you can get the PDF for 50% off with code: Reboot

We won’t be going through the book exactly as it is; this is really more of an experimental journey, and there will be different challenges, hence, “The Reboot”.

Okay, let’s get this party started! I’ll put a list of challenges up every morning (Mon-Fri) beginning Monday, June 4th. Let’s do this!

If you want to make sure you don’t miss a day, you can get the articles sent your email by clicking here or RSS by clicking here.

That’s how she told me that my grandfather, the one who hung the moon in my world, had died. It was March 7, 1988. I was eight years old. A ball of flames had swallowed my grandfather up when his P51 Mustang “Dolly” crashed in the mountains.

“I know.” I said, but I didn’t really know. I knew he had been missing and my grandmother had been crying, but he was fine. He wasn’t in a thousand pieces on some mountain where he stayed undiscovered for days.

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

She wiggles her toes into the “comfiest place on earth” (between my knees) and we cozy up to each other to talk about the day.

We giggle and chat and I ask her questions. I feel a prodding in my spirit, so I ask, “Is there anything you need to tell me?”

She hesitates.

“No, mommy.”

But I can tell there is something. So I dig gently.

“Baby, you know mama is on your team, right? Nothing you could ever say will make me love you any less. You are safe with me.”

She looks at me with large eyes, unsure if what I’m saying is true.

“There is something, but I’m afraid to tell you.”

“Darling, I will never discipline you for confessing to me or telling me something you need to be free of. I want you to trust me. I’m here for you, okay? You can tell me.”

I can see it. Shame. She sits up, covers her face, and just keeps repeating, “I’m so scared you’re going to be mad at me.”

She’s six, and my comforting words barely break through her fear. Her unfounded fear. I am wide open to be arms of grace, but she balls up and covers her nervousness between giggles and sad eyes.

I take her hand and tell her again that I’m on her side.

She speaks into the pillow that is over her face. She tells me her secret. And then,

she cries.

And I hold her and I tell her how much I love her. I tell her that I did the same thing when I was her age, and she uncovers her face and looks at me with surprise. “You did?!” “Yep. And I didn’t like it either.”

Confession is good for the spirit. We smile and hold each other in grace. We pray. We kick shame out the door.

I’m her mama, and He’s our Father, and shame is not invited into our family.

We cozy up again to giggle and chat some more.

We are unveiled, and we are

free.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

I have heart palpitations, and I’m giddy excited (honey, will you take me out to dinner tonight to celebrate? ;) In honor of this major milestone in my life, I’d like to celebrate by giving you some of my favorite things from DaySpring. WOOT!

(Joel, sorry for showing “the world” the pic with your eyes closed, but it’s the only one I have!)

Side-note: this is me locked *in* the Thomas Nelson gate. Yes, I managed to get locked in. I had to call security. Great first impression (the security guy took the picture).

Last but…you get it. This:

I don’t have any pictures of me using the Truly Treasured wallet, but I can assure you, it’s the one I use. It’s sitting in my purse right now. I adore it.

Here’s the stellar news: I’m not just giving away one of these items, oh no. I’m giving away 10 sets of all three items. Did you hear (read) that?! 10 SETS! Of ALL THREE! (Thank you DaySpring! Because when I say “I’m” giving them away, really, they are).

Isn’t this just such happy news? I’m happy. I hope you are, too.

To Enter, just use the form below! The winner will be chosen through Random.org. Good “luck”!

Oh, one more thing. You can get 30% off any of the three items above by using the code: Redeemed30. The coupon code is valid through Thursday, May 24th.

“Do it all” implies that I do “it” ALL. What is “all?” I do a few things that I believe God has called me to do, and sometimes I do them well, and sometimes I completely botch them.

Here’s what I do:

I mother

I homeschool my 6 year old

I wife

I blog

I write

I host a conference

I speak

Let me break it down:

I mother

I cuddle with my babes every morning when they wake up. All three of us sleep together in the mornings, and it is the sweetest thing ever. We get up, we have breakfast, sometimes my babes watch some TV, sometimes they play, sometimes we go to the gym. I’m trying to make bible time during breakfast an anchor, something consistant for them. Their jobs are to make their beds, help me clean up, and unload the dishwasher. This does not happen at the same time every day. Some mornings we have a friend over, or go to a friends house, swimming lessons, kids museum or science museum (depending on the season/day). My 6 year old takes piano lessons, ballet lessons (for $5 a week – a missionary at a church teaches worship ballet), and swim lessons. My 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter only take swimming lessons.

Then I do lessons with my 6 year old, which is very simple and doesn’t take much time. We do math, reading, and bible. Soon we will also be doing art. My other two play, or color, or watch TV during this time. Side note: we stopped all lessons except for reading from January until May because my daughter was overwhelmed and was struggling with reading. We picked back up in May.

After lunch, my babes have quiet times – my 3 year old naps and the other two play quietly in our play room.

After naps they play or have a friend over, or help me clean or go on errands. Every day is different.

My husband gets home at 3:30 every day, and so we spend time together, have a very early dinner (usually around 4:30) and then we just hang out.

Exciting stuff, eh?

I wife

My husband and I have landed in a wonderful groove with each other, and so we aren’t always striving to “work on our marriage.” We love each other, we enjoy hanging out with each other, we make each other laugh, and we do business together. He helps me run the conference, and he’s dipping his toes into the possibility of starting a business where we work together. We have a good thing.

I blog

I blog mostly in the evenings after my babes go to bed (they go sleep around 8:30). Sometimes I don’t blog because I’m tired or want to watch a movie with the hubs. I’m fine with not blogging every day. I also have an assistant who helps me with email, affiliates, and other tasks; she’s amazing. She also runs the Allume blog.

I write

I have written eBooks here and there. For 31 Days to Clean I got up around 5am in the morning to work on it. Also, it wasn’t a book from scratch, I took posts and revised them and that is what made up 31 Days to Clean (and Frumps to Pumps). I only wrote two “new content” eBooks, and both of those I mostly worked on in the evenings. I probably wasn’t blogging very much during the writing of those eBooks. When it came to writing Desperate, I had to hire someone to help during the week, and I was able to do that because of the success of my other eBooks. I have a grad student come once a week for a few hours to clean my house and play with my babes. I would not be able to write a book if I didn’t have her. Also, my husband usually gives me Saturday mornings or an evening to write. I took two months off my blog while writing Desperate. Also, when you are compelled to do something, you just do it, you find ways.

I host a conference

I agonized over whether or not to keep doing the conference. My husband and I prayed, sought out council, and talked it over a thousand times. We believe God led us to this conference, and we made the decision to keep doing it (but we hold it loosely; only as God leads). As for working on it, I mainly work on the conference on Saturday mornings, or while driving somewhere (this is when I make phone calls), in the evenings, or during my kids quiet times. I schedule all meetings with sponsors during those quiet times. I also have an amazing team of women who work with me, and so we spread out the work. We each operate according to our strengths so the work is fun/easier. I also meet once a month with my co-host to work on the conference (this is usually on a Saturday when my husband will do something with our kiddos). I was going to host a second conference, but realized it would be too much, so I canceled it.

I speak

I rarely speak. I’m not aspiring to be a speaker, and I choose very carefully what I’m willing to do. I don’t like being away from my family, so I set pretty strict boundaries on my travel time.

…

Sometimes I mess it all up and feel terrible. My life is not wrapped up in some box with a bow. I’m selfish and lazy. I struggle with listening to voices other than God’s (“You shouldn’t…” You should…”). But, I’m also an overcomer. I choose to not stay in my sin. I go to God, I accept His grace and wisdom, and start over. I persevere in my ideals. I don’t give up.

So no, I don’t do it all. I do the things that I believe God has chosen for my life. I’m walking by faith and leaning into Him every step of the way.

Why do you think we use the term “do it all” flippantly? What does it mean to “do it all”?